Summary: But when you realize that it is God who can rise you up; you suddenly, find yourself ashamed and this could be the reason on why it is hard to be close to Him. You’re thinking that God is hard to convince.

Background: He was sitting by the campfire, a man approaches and Jacob’s first thought was “this could be one of Esau’s men.” So he wrestled him. Until he knew he’s wrestling with God. And he begins to realize that all these years he has been fighting against God. The wrestling match was the acting out of what has been taking place in Jacob’s life through his years. It has been a role playing of Jacob’s spiritual life.

Have you ever had a crisis, a crossroad in life, not knowing which way to go and knowing that things….. bad things are closing in on you? Different decisions … choices are circling on your mind… giving up or fighting it on…. Dilemma. But at the end… you finally realize that it’s all about God. But when you realize that it is God who can rise you up; you suddenly, find yourself ashamed and this could be the reason on why it is hard to be close to Him. You’re thinking that God is hard to convince.

V 28, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and men and have overcome.” Jacob was a man who had demonstrated power with God through physical weakness. He will limp for the rest of his life. He has prevailed through striving and weeping in prayer, and not letting go. The result was …. a blessing.

But when you realize that it is God who can rise you up; you suddenly, find yourself ashamed and this could be the reason on why it is hard to be close to Him. You’re thinking that God is hard to convince.